Ironing board



p 1934- J. G. WERNLI 1,973,332

IRONING BOARD Filed May 2.7, 1933 4 INVENTOR.

6 Q a 306w g. Xx MM ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1934 IRONIN G BOARD John G. Wernli, South Pasadena, Calif.

Application May 27, 1933, Serial No. 673.272

3 Claims.

This invention relates to folding ironing boards of the type wherein the top or ironing board proper is supported by rear vertical legs and a diagonal leg with connections between the latter aand the board for supporting the forward end of the board, the legs and connections being foldable against the board. My invention relates to improved devices for supporting the forward part of the board and locking the parts in their unfolded positions. These devices, ashereinafter explained, also facilitate the folding and unfolding of the supporting structure.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the supporting and locking structure for the board, unfolded, the board being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing in side elevation the locking and supporting devices at the forward part of the board;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the board with the legs and associated devices folded, and,

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing, in side elevation, the parts illustrated in Fig. 2, folded.

Referring to the drawing, a indicates an iron- .ing board to the rear end portion of which is secured a fitting 1 and to this fitting are pivotally connected a pairof rear legs I), 2), adapted to stand vertically when unfolded, as shown in Fig. l, and to fold against the under side of the board, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The rear legs are connected by diagonal crossed braces c to a fitting 2 at the rear of the pivotal axis of the legs b. A diagonal leg d is pivotally connected to the fitting 1, this leg consisting of two strips 3, 3 which converge toward the forward end of the board and are suitably connected together at the latter end.

The parts thus far described are old and not a part of my invention.

The diagonal leg is stiffened by a block 4 which is fitted between the strips 3 near their central portions. A bolt 5 extends through the members 3 and the block 4. A pair of links 6, of equal length, are pivotally mounted upon the ends of the bolt 5 and the upper ends of these links are connected by pivots 7 to the lower ends of links 8 which latter are pivoted at their upper ends to a fitting 9 attached to the under side of the board a. The links 6 and 8 constitute folding struts for supporting the forward end portion of the board. Braces l0 pivotally connected to the rear legs b extend forwardly and are connected to the pivot pins 7 of the struts. A toggle connection e extends from the pivot pins 7 of the struts forwardly and upwardly to a suitable fitting 11 on the under side of the board. As shown, this toggle connection comprises a U- shaped member 12 pivoted at its ends to the fitting 11 and having at its central portion a cross-piece 12 and parallel links 13 which extend from the member 12 to the pivot pins 7 of the braces.

When the table is unfolded, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the toggle is buckled upwardly and the braces 10 prevent the legs 2) from folding, while the struts 6-8, as well as the toggle members, support the forward end of the board. The block 4 between the members of the diagonal leg prevents these members from bending inwardly as they otherwise would do when pressure is applied to the board near its edges above the struts. The block makes the leg rigid, and also, through the struts, the board is supported more rigidly than if the block were not present.

To unfold the supporting structure the board is arranged vertically with its larger or rear end on the floor and the diagonal leg is then pulled outwardly far enough to permit the operator to grasp the cross-piece 12 of the U-shaped member or bail 12. The bail is then swung from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and by this movement the braces 10 and the struts 8 are caused to extend the legs and the parts are locked in these positions by the toggle. To fold the parts, the board is arranged vertically with its larger end on the floor and the bail of the toggle member is swung toward the smaller or front end of the board and when the handle of the toggle is well forward of its pivotal connection with the board, the diagonal leg may be pressed toward the board and the various parts will fold as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

What I claim is:

. 1. The combination with a table top of a pair of rear legs and a diagonal leg hinged to the top adjacent its rear end and adapted to fold against the under side of the top, parallel struts pivotally connected at their ends to the central part of the top and the central part of the diagonal leg, each strut composed of two pivotally connected parts, braces connecting the rear legs to the struts at the joints in the latter, and a toggle connection extending from said joints forwardly and upwardly to the under side of the top.

2. The combination with a table top of a pair of rear legs and a diagonal leg hinged to the top adjacent its rear end and adapted to fold against the under side of the top, parallel struts pivotally connected at their ends to the central part of the top and the central part of the diagonal leg, each strut composed of two pivotally connected parts, braces connecting the rear legs to the struts at the joints in the latter, a toggle connection extending from said joints forwardly and upwardly to the under side of the top, said toggle connection adapted to buckle upwardly and comprising a U-shaped element pivotally connected to the board and having a cross-piece adjacent the joint in the toggle.

3. In an ironing board, a top, a pair of rear legs pivoted to the top near its rear end and adapted to stand in upright positions, a diagonal leg pivoted adjacent the axis of said supporting legs and JOHN G. WERNLI. 

